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07 Eagle Grief Gorge

This taught, she turned into a shaft of golden light and went east, and the Tang Monk knew she was Guanyin Bodhisattva, and bowed in haste. He put the coat and cap in his bundle, sat by the roadside and repeated the spell until he knew it perfectly by heart. Wukong, having left his master, turned one somersault and came to the Eastern Ocean. The Dragon King came out with his sons and grandsons to greet him. "I heard your term of suffering was ended, Great Sage," said the Dragon King. "No doubt you will restore Flower-Fruit Mountain and return to Water-Curtain Cave." Wukong sighed. "Guanyin Bodhisattva urged me to good, and I follow the Tang Monk from the eastern land to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures. I am a monk now." "Wonderful news! But then why are you here?" Wukong laughed. "I killed a few ruffians and my master nagged me till I lost my temper and came away. I thought I would look in on you and beg a cup of tea." The Dragon King called for tea at once. Over the tea Wukong noticed a picture hanging on the back wall and asked what it was. "It is called 'Three Visits to the Bridge at Yi,'" said the Dragon King, and told him how Zhang Liang of the Han dynasty picked up the shoe of Huang Shigong three times, won his secret teaching, and so achieved great deeds. Wukong was silent a long while. "Say no more, old Dragon King. This old Sun will guard that Tang Monk and fetch the scriptures." "Then lose no time, Great Sage," said the Dragon King, delighted. Wukong took his leave, left the Eastern Sea and rode a cloud westward. On the way he met Guanyin. "Sun Wukong, why are you not guarding the Tang Monk?" she asked. Flustered, Wukong bowed to her from his cloud. "I am on my way to him this moment." "Good," she said. "Go quickly." Presently Wukong came to where the Tang Monk sat disconsolate by the roadside. "Master, why are you not on your way? What are you still doing here?" The monk looked up. "Where have you been? I dared not go on alone, so I waited for you." "I went to the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea for a cup of tea," said Wukong. "You have been gone barely two hours. How could you have drunk tea there?" Wukong laughed. "I ride the somersault cloud — a hundred and eight thousand li in one turn — so I am gone and back in a moment." Seeing his master hungry, Wukong offered to beg food. "No need," said the Tang Monk. "There are dry provisions in my bundle. Take the alms bowl and find some water, and let me eat before we go on." Wukong undid the bundle and handed him several coarse wheaten cakes. In the bundle Wukong saw a cotton robe and a gold-inlaid flowered cap, and took a great liking to them. "Did these come with you from the eastern land, Master?" he asked. "They were mine in former days," said the Tang Monk. "If you like them, they are yours." Wukong put on the robe and the cap. Seeing this, the Tang Monk set down his food and silently recited the Tightening-Band Spell, and Wukong, clutching his head, rolled on the ground in agony. "My head! My head!" Fearing he would tear the band apart, the monk stopped, and the pain ceased at once. Wukong felt his head: there was a golden wire drawn tight about it that he could neither pull off nor break, as though it had taken root. He took the rod from his ear, worked it under the band and pried. Afraid he would break it, the monk recited again. Wukong writhed and turned somersaults in his pain, his ears red, his face inflamed, his eyes bulging and his body numb. The monk had not the heart to go on and stopped, and the pain ceased at once. Then Wukong understood that it was his master who had cursed him. "Will you heed my teaching from now on?" asked the Tang Monk. "I will, I will!" Wukong answered in haste.

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